Griffins’ rally falls short in showdown

2026 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY, 44, GROSSMONT 31

Ford rushes for 138 yards, but three interceptions and 145 penalty yards undermine Grossmont in loss to San Bernardino Valley

By RAMON SCOTT
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Grossmont College recovered the onside kick, had the ball in San Bernardino Valley territory and needed one more touchdown to turn a 25-point deficit into a remarkable comeback.

Unfortunately, the Griffins couldn’t reach the end zone in their most critical drive of the season.

Two interceptions in the final 56 seconds, the second returned 37 yards for a touchdown by Jashawn Echols, sealed a 44-31 San Bernardino Valley victory Saturday at Griffins Stadium, leaving Grossmont chasing its chief rival in the American Pacific League championship race.

Ethan Ford rushed for 138 yards, and Michael Kearns III threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Griffins fought back from 28-3 to trail only 37-31 with 1:07 remaining.

Grossmont then recovered an onside kick at the Valley 45, giving its offense an opportunity to take the lead.

Instead, Amari Simon intercepted Kearns with 56 seconds left. The Griffins forced a punt and received one final opportunity, but Echols intercepted the next pass and took it to the end zone with 22 seconds remaining.

Grossmont fell to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in league, tied with Santa Monica behind Valley. The Wolverines improved to 7-1 and 3-0, becoming the league’s only unbeaten team in conference play and securing the head-to-head result against the Griffins.

The loss ended Grossmont’s four-game on-field winning streak and dealt a substantial blow to its championship and postseason ambitions.

The Griffins were competitive in the overall numbers, finishing just eight yards behind Valley in total offense, 390-382. But three interceptions and 14 penalties for 145 yards repeatedly worked against their recovery.

EARLY SCORES PUT GRIFFS IN HOLE

Grossmont’s defense forced punts on Valley’s first two possessions, but its offense could not establish an early advantage.

A holding penalty erased a first-down run on the Griffins’ opening series. Their next possession reached the Valley 41 before Lucas Mora’s 58-yard field-goal attempt fell short.

Valley broke through on the ensuing series.

On third-and-5, Brodie Savage connected with Jerred Rennick for a 54-yard touchdown, putting the Wolverines ahead 7-0 with 2:42 left in the first quarter.

A 70-yard touchdown drive followed, ending with Savage’s 14-yard scoring pass to Donavon Ferguson for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Philipa Trakas answered with a 44-yard field goal, extending his season-long and bringing Grossmont within 14-3.

The Wolverines then scored twice in a span of 1:31.

After Valley recovered an onside kick near midfield, a Grossmont unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty helped move the visitors into scoring position. Justis Smith finished the possession with a 26-yard touchdown run.

Following a Grossmont three-and-out, Keiron Patrick-Daniels broke a 64-yard touchdown run.

With 6:18 remaining in the half, the Griffins trailed 28-3.

FORD FUELS FIRST RESPONSE

Grossmont answered with its most productive stretch of the first half.

Ford’s 27-yard run helped move the Griffins to the Valley 11. Two carries by the runner listed as No. 28 finished the possession, the second a 3-yard touchdown run that cut the deficit to 28-10.

The defense forced a three-and-out, and a Valley penalty following the punt gave Grossmont possession at the Wolverines’ 47.

Ford needed two carries to cover that distance.

After being stopped for no gain, he broke a 47-yard touchdown run, then added the two-point conversion, bringing Grossmont within 28-18 with 1:18 remaining.

Isaac Turner’s interception on Valley’s next possession gave the Griffins another chance before halftime.

That opportunity turned against them.

A pass by Trenice Woods was intercepted by Shane Shiel, whose 63-yard return carried Valley to the Grossmont 12. The Wolverines converted the takeaway into Ghael Pasos’ 28-yard field goal as the half expired.

Instead of taking a 10-point deficit and possession into the break, Grossmont went to halftime trailing 31-18.

THIRD-QUARTER CHANCES SLIP AWAY

Isaac Syph opened the second half with a 53-yard kickoff return, giving Grossmont possession at the Valley 29.

The Griffins could not capitalize.

Facing fourth-and-4 at the 23, Grossmont handed off to Ford, who gained three yards before Valley stopped him short.

The Wolverines responded with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 7:24. Grossmont limited the damage near the goal line, but Pasos’ 25-yard field goal extended Valley’s lead to 34-18.

A Grossmont offside penalty on fourth down had prolonged the possession near midfield.

Penalties damaged the Griffins’ next opportunity as well.

After a reception by Turner and a Valley personal foul moved Grossmont near midfield, a holding call erased a sizable run. Two subsequent unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties pushed the Griffins into third-and-42, eventually forcing a punt.

Another possession began at the Valley 42 but ended with Trakas missing a 57-yard field-goal attempt.

Grossmont went scoreless in the third quarter despite receiving several opportunities with favorable field position.

WOODS HELPS REOPEN GAME

Pinned at its own 6 early in the fourth quarter, Grossmont produced its quickest touchdown drive of the afternoon.

Kearns found Dvonta Peoples for five yards and Turner for 13 to move the Griffins away from their goal line.

He then connected with Woods for 50 yards. Following a Valley substitution penalty, Kearns returned to Woods for a 21-yard touchdown.

The five-play, 94-yard drive took only 1:52.

The two-point pass failed, leaving Grossmont behind 34-24 with 11 minutes remaining.

Valley answered with another sustained possession, moving 65 yards in 10 plays. The Griffins again stopped the Wolverines near the goal line, but Pasos made his third field goal, a 21-yarder, for a 37-24 lead with 6:13 left.

Grossmont still had another touchdown drive in it.

Starting at their own 13, the Griffins converted fourth-and-1 on a five-yard Ford run. Later, Kearns scrambled eight yards on fourth-and-6 to keep the possession alive.

His 22-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Smith, followed by Jasper Brandenburg’s extra point, cut Valley’s lead to 37-31 with 1:07 remaining.

The drive covered 87 yards in 17 plays and consumed just over five minutes.

Even after penalties pushed the ensuing kickoff backward, Grossmont recovered Mora’s onside kick at the Valley 45.

The Griffins had given themselves a chance to win.

Simon’s interception ended that possession. Grossmont’s defense then held Smith to seven yards on three carries, using timeouts to force a punt.

Kearns took over at the Grossmont 25 with 33 seconds remaining, but Echols’ interception return supplied the decisive finish.

GRIFFINS GROUND GAME POUNDS

Ford finished with 138 yards on 16 carries, averaging 8.6 per attempt against a Valley defense that entered allowing only 57 rushing yards per game.

Grossmont rushed for 216 yards at five yards per carry.

Ka’tyleon “Ty” Phillips finished the drive with consecutive runs of eight and three yards, scoring Grossmont’s first touchdown to cut Valley’s lead to 28-10.

Kearns completed 12 of 31 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. Woods’ first-half interception accounted for Grossmont’s third turnover.

Woods led the receiving group with five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Peoples caught three passes for 28 yards, Turner added two for 26, and Smith’s lone reception produced the late touchdown.

Valley’s Smith carried 24 times for 123 yards and a touchdown. Patrick-Daniels added 87 yards and a score on five carries, helping the Wolverines total 225 rushing yards.

Savage completed 13 of 27 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.

Both teams accumulated costly penalties. Valley was flagged 10 times for 131 yards, but Grossmont’s mistakes repeatedly interrupted scoring opportunities or extended Wolverines possessions.

GRIFFINS GRAFFITI

Turner contributes on both sides

Isaac Turner supplied Grossmont’s lone takeaway and led the defense with eight tackles.

His second-quarter interception briefly gave the Griffins an opportunity to add points after Ford’s touchdown had reduced the deficit to 10.

Turner also caught two passes for 26 yards, converting third downs on both fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

On the 94-yard scoring possession, his 13-yard reception moved Grossmont from its own 11 to the 24. On the later touchdown march, another 13-yard gain came at the beginning of the second half? No—the second reception came earlier in the third quarter, helping move Grossmont near midfield.

Titus Toilolo finished with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups. Jirah Savaiinaea Jr. added six tackles, while Quincy Shepard Jr. had five tackles and two breakups.

Jeremiah Savaiinaea Jr. recorded 1½ tackles for loss.

Ford delivers another big afternoon

Ford followed his 140-yard performance at West L.A. with 138 yards against Valley, giving him 278 rushing yards over his past two games.

His 47-yard touchdown Saturday exceeded his previous season long of 46, and his two-point conversion helped turn a 25-point deficit into a manageable first-half margin.

Ford now has 564 rushing yards for the season, based on his entering total of 426.

Grossmont’s ability to run against Valley was one of its strongest answers to the matchup. The difficulty came in converting that production into enough sustained scoring possessions while avoiding turnovers and penalties.

LOOKING AHEAD

Finale at Glendale becomes Grossmont’s remaining on-field assignment

Grossmont’s next scheduled game against L.A. Pierce has already been awarded as a forfeit victory following Pierce’s decision to discontinue its season. That result is already included in the Griffins’ 6-3 overall and 3-1 league records.

The Griffins’ remaining on-field regular-season game is at Glendale on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Saturday’s defeat leaves Grossmont needing help in the title race. Valley remains unbeaten in league play with games against West L.A. and Santa Monica remaining, while Grossmont and Santa Monica each have one conference loss.

The Griffins can no longer secure an unbeaten league championship through their own results. Their immediate task is to finish with a victory at Glendale and give themselves the strongest possible finishing position.

SCORING BY QUARTERS

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